Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News | Music Videos |Golden Gods Awards | revolvermag.com » Tombshttp://www.revolvermag.com
The online home for Revolver Magazine and the Golden Gods Awards delivers hard rock and heavy metal news, Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock, music video, photos and moreTue, 03 Mar 2015 18:30:11 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.2New Issue Preview: Revolver January 2015http://www.revolvermag.com/news/new-issue-preview-revolver-january-2015.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/new-issue-preview-revolver-january-2015.html#commentsTue, 23 Dec 2014 17:25:45 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=69091The following is a preview of what’s in the January 2015 issue of Revolver. You can pick up the new issue on newsstands December 30 or at the Revolver Online Store.

Tombs have released a music video for their cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes.” The video was directed by Jaclyn Sheer & Samantha Astolfi. The song was originally recorded by David Bowie with Brian Eno in 1977. Check the clip out below.

Vocalist Mike Hill said, “We recorded an mixed the song on our own with the help of Tim Schmoyer in Boston. We chose this version of the song because it was featured in the soundtrack of ‘Christiane F,’ a 1981 German film by Ulrich Edel. It’s a dark drama about a young girl’s descent into drug abuse and prostitution. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack during the band’s many trips to Germany and have always wanted to cover the song.”

Tombs released their most recent album, ‘Savage Gold,’ earlier this year via Relapse Records.

]]>http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-music-video-for-cover-of-david-bowies-heroes.html/feed0Tombs Premiere New Music Video, “Seance”http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-new-music-video-seance.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-new-music-video-seance.html#commentsMon, 11 Aug 2014 19:01:18 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=64504Brooklyn experimental metal outfit Tombs have released a new music video for “Seance,” which was directed by Jaclyn Sheer. Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

Frontman Mike Hill said, “Watching the video is like observing this realm dissolve as you pass into a higher level of consciousness.”

The band released their newest album, ‘Savage Gold,’ earlier this year.

As we reach the halfway point of the year, we’ve compiled our list of the top 33 albums of 2014 so far. Our picks range from commercial-rock icons Linkin Park’s heaviest album yet to extreme-metal stalwarts Behemoth’s epic comeback from the brink. We’ve got records by supergroups including current and former members of veteran groups like Sepultura, Deftones, and Killswitch Engage, as well as LPs from fast-rising breakthrough bands like Of Mice & Men and Nothing More.

It’s been a good year so far–as the list below demonstrates–which only makes us more eager to see what other crushing music 2014 will bring us over the next six months.

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]]>http://www.revolvermag.com/news/the-best-albums-of-2014-so-far.html/feed38New Music Out Today, Vote for the Record of the Weekhttp://www.revolvermag.com/news/new-music-out-today-vote-for-the-record-of-the-week-62.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/new-music-out-today-vote-for-the-record-of-the-week-62.html#commentsTue, 10 Jun 2014 13:30:48 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=60833This week sees new shit from Arch Enemy, Body Count, Mayhem, and more hitting stores. Check out the list of releases below and let us know which ones you’re snagging a copy of and which record should be the Album of the Week. Pick your favorite and feel free to vote as many times as you want. Voting ends on Monday, June 16, at noon, when the results will be announced.

]]>http://www.revolvermag.com/news/new-music-out-today-vote-for-the-record-of-the-week-62.html/feed5Review: Tombs — Savage Goldhttp://www.revolvermag.com/news/review-tombs-savage-gold.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/review-tombs-savage-gold.html#commentsThu, 05 Jun 2014 13:30:36 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=599692011’s acclaimed Path of Totality set the bar high, but Tombs prove up to the challenge with Savage Gold, which explores even darker, deeper terrain. The first half of the record is mostly harsh and unrelenting, with doomy segues serving as mere breathers between bouts of Morbid Angelesque punishment. With the more hypnotic “Echoes,” however, Tombs stretch beyond traditional extreme metal with clean vocals and droning guitars. “Deathtripper” goes even further, touching on territory mined by Neurosis and the Swans. But wherever Tombs travel, they create evocative metallic nightmares most of their contemporaries only dream of crafting. JON WIEDERHORN

Brooklyn experimental metal outfit Tombs will release their new album, Savage Gold, June 10 via Relapse. In anticipation, the group is streaming a track from the record, “Spirals.” Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments.

]]>http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-new-song-spirals.html/feed0Tombs Premiere New Song, “Deathtripper”http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-new-song-deathtripper.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/news/tombs-premiere-new-song-deathtripper.html#commentsMon, 05 May 2014 17:51:12 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=59029Tombs have premiered a new song, “Deathtripper.” Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

Vocalist-guitarist Mike Hill said, “I actually wrote the lyrics for this song back in the late ’90s when I was living in Boston. I was going through a period where I was sleeping on someone’s couch and living out of a gym bag. I went through some old journal entries and found the lyrics written out. They seemed to fit the vibe of the instrumental tracks.”

2014 is going to be a good year. How do we know? Because some of the biggest, badass-est bands in hard rock and heavy metal are set to drop new bombs over the following 300-plus days. Read on to see just what we mean–and get fucking psyched.

Animals As Leaders
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: March
Guitar wizard Tosin Abasi & Co. are looking to release their third installment of their head-spinning instrumental prog metal in March. This follow-up to 2011′s Weightless will also feature recording help from Periphery’s Misha Mansoor.

Anthrax
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
In 2013, lead guitarist Rob Caggiano exited the band for full-time duties in Volbeat. But later last year, guitarist Scott Ian tweeted, “Today

and are coming over to start writing for the next record. The few skeletons that are rattling around sound vicious!”

Behemoth
TITLE: The Satanist
RELEASE DATE: February 4
Polish blackened death-metal extremists Behemoth have finished their 10th full-length, which will be their first since 2009′s Evangelion and since frontman Nergal successfully battled leukemia. The album was delayed last year after the band dropped off Mayhem Fest when drummer Inferno needed surgery. Since then, the group released a single, “Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel,” and a video to accompany it.

Black Label Society
TITLE: Catacombs of the Black Vatican
RELEASE DATE: April 8
Guitar icon and Black Label Society frontman Zakk Wylde recently announced a brand new LP freshly titled Catacombs of the Black Vatican, due out this spring. This announcement came shortly after the band parted ways with longtime guitarist Nick Catanese and replaced him with Lizzy Borden guitarist Dario Lorina.

Body Count
TITLE: Manslaughter
RELEASE DATE: April/May
After the deaths of Mooseman, D-Roc and Beatmaster V, a new Body Count record was kind of the last thing we expected. However, production for the controversial rap-metal band’s fifth studio album is already well under way, according to vocalist Ice-T.

Cannibal Corpse
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Death-metal legends Cannibal Corpse plan to spend the next few months writing the follow-up to 2012′s acclaimed Torture. This time, producer Mark Lewis will be behind the boards.

Cattle Decapitation
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Last year the California deathgrind act released probably the most NSFW video ever, for “Forced Gender Reassignment”off 2012′s Monolith of Inhumanity. Word has it the band is working on their follow-up and seventh full-length.

Chelsea Grin
TITLE: Ashes to Ashes
RELEASE DATE: May
The Salt Lake City deathcore act has released an EP and a couple of singles since 2011′s My Damnation. Now Chelsea Grin are ready to drop album No. 3, Ashes to Ashes, in the spring.

Chiodos
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: late March
Post-hardcore act Chiodos are not new to lineup changes. After reuniting with original vocalist Craig Owens and longtime drummer Derrick Frost after years apart, and bringing on new guitarist Thomas Erak–the frontman of screamo shredders The Fall of Troy–the reorganized lineup went into the studio. Owens says of the new music, “Some of it is the heaviest Chiodos has ever done.”

Code Orange Kids
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
The young hardcore act Code Orange Kids released their Kurt Ballou-produced breakout debut, Love Is Love/Return to Dust, in 2012. The band is expected to unleash their sophomore album this year on Deathwish Inc.

Comeback Kid
TITLE: Die Knowing
RELEASE DATE: February/March
Canadian hardcore act Comeback Kid will release their fifth studio album, Die Knowing, and first since 2010′s Symptoms + Cures. The band also has a tour set for early this year, with Backtrack and Xibalba.

Crosses
TITLE: †††
RELEASE DATE: February 11
The debut full-length from Crosses–a supergroup composed of Chino Moreno of the Deftones, Shaun Lopez of Far, and multi-instrumentalist Chuck Doom–was pushed back from November to this year. The electronic group has already released two singles, “Bi†ches Brew” and “†he Epilogue,” in anticipation.

Darkest Hour
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: March/April
The D.C. metalcore group finished recording album No. 8 last year after touring with Killswitch Engage. Guitarist Michael Schleibaum said, “When John Henry and I started the band some 18 years ago, we could have never imagined the sound would travel this far. The making of this record was both a painful and joyful one and the end result has become something truly transcendent.”

Demon Hunter
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Seattle metalcore act Demon Hunter have been working on their seventh full-length, due out later this year. This will be the follow-up to 2012′s True Defiance.

Down
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Spring
Down released the first part of their EP series in 2012 with Down IV Part 1: The Purple EP, and the band has finished the next installment. This EP will be the supergroup’s first release to feature Honky guitarist Bobby Landgraf, who replaced Kirk Windstein late last year after he left to focus on his main project Crowbar.

Dying Fetus
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Summer
Tech-death metallers Dying Fetus are expected to release the follow-up of 2012′s Reign Supreme. Last fall the band headlined a tour with support from Exhumed and Abiotic.

Emmure
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: March/April
One of the most controversial bands in the deathcore scene, Emmure are planning to have a release out early this year as a follow-up to 2012′s Slave to the Game. This past year saw the band playing festivals and tours throughout Europe and the US, including a slot on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival.

EyeHateGod
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
The state of the first EyeHateGod record in 13 years was uncertain after drummer Joey LaCaze (pictured below, second from right) died unexpectedly in August last year. Guitarist Jimmy Bower recently said, “Joey would have never wanted us to quit playing. We knew that for a fact. So as opposed to sitting around bummed out, we just got into a room pretty fast with Aaron and started learning as much as we could. We got 22 songs down, so we’re stoked, man.”

For Today
TITLE: Fight the Silence
RELEASE DATE: February 4
Metalcore group For Today released two singles, “Pariah” and “Fight The Silence,” last year off their upcoming album, due out in February. The album’s message is focused around the subject of human trafficking.

Godflesh
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Spring
When British industrial-metal groundbreakers Godflesh reunited to play shows in 2010, it was great news—more than a few extreme-music fans, including a staff members at Revolver, were crushed when the band canceled its 2001 U.S. tour and then broke up the following year. But news that main man Justin Broadrick & Co. are working on a new album, 10 years after the release of their swansong, Hymns, well, that’s a whole other level of mind-blowing.

Godsmack
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Hard-rock band Godsmack have announced that they are working on the follow-up to 2010′s The Oracle. The band posted on its Facebook page saying, “That’s right motherf–kers! We are in FL writing for the next album!”

Halestorm
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Halestorm drummer Arejay Hale has been saying the band will spend the first month of the new year writing material for a follow-up to 2012′s The Strange Case of… That record won the group new fans and big awards, including a Grammy in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Category for their song “Love Bites…(So Do I),” which made Halestorm the first female-fronted band to both be nominated and win in that category.

In Flames
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Late last year, Swedish melodic death-metal pioneers In Flames entered Hansa Studios to record their upcoming album. The record will be the follow-up to 2011′s Sounds of a Playground Fading.

Islander
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: March/April
Islander recently released their EP, Pains, which saw a guest appearance by Bad Brains’ H.R. and earned them comparisons to Deftones, Rage Against the Machine, and Glassjaw. This year, the South Carolina group plans on releasing their debut full-length via Victory Records.

Judas Priest
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
The Metal Gods may have announced their departure from the stage, which they commemorated with 2011′s triumphant Epitaph Tour, but the members of Judas Priest swear we haven’t heard the last of them. With the addition of new guitarist Richie Faulkner, who replaced K.K. Downing when he retired and made his debut with the band supporting James Durbin on American Idol, the band was working on a reported 12 to 14 last year.

Killer Be Killed
TITLE: Killer Be Killed
RELEASE DATE: Spring
Now this is a supergroup. The band, which has long been in the works, features The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato, Mastodon singer-bassist Troy Sanders, Sepultura and Soulfly founder Max Cavalera, and former Mars Volta drummer Dave Elitch. Puciato, Sanders, and Cavalera all contribute vocals, and the Dillinger frontman says of the music that “It’s a bit of Sabbath-y doom, a bit of thrash, a bit of hardcore and punk.”

Linkin Park
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
It’s always a busy time for Linkin Park. Last year the band released a remix album, Recharged, collaborated with electronic musician Steve Aoki, and frontman Chester Bennington became the vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots. Even so, Linkin Park co-founder Mike Shinoda has said that the band hopes to release their sixth studio album in 2014.

Machine Head
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Last year the thrash band announced that bassist Adam Duce left on friendly terms to only days later recant that, as frontman Robb Flynn wrote in a blog post that they actually fired Duce due to major differences. Flynn, the group’s only remaining original member, looks to release the follow-up to 2011′s Unto the Locust this year on Nuclear Blast.

Mastodon
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Atlanta sludge-metal masterminds Mastodon have been writing music to follow up 2011′s The Hunter for over a year. The band had dozens of skeletons of new songs. “It’s too early to tell what it will all end up sounding like at this point,” drummer-vocalist Brann Dailor says. “There may be a concept involved. It just depends. Some of the guitar parts are so super heavy they remind me of ‘Mother Puncher’ . They’re just brutal. At the same time, there are lots of Pink Floydy passages that have these psychedelic funk beats. We play space metal, you know?”

Metallica
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Though it’s been six years since Metallica released their last album, Death Magnetic, the band has hardly been slacking off. To the contrary, they’ve delivered on project after project. There has been the Lulu collaboration with Lou Reed, Orion Music + More festivals, and a 3D concert movie, Metallica: Through the Never. And of course, how could we forget their epic performance at last year’s Revolver‘s Golden Gods? We can’t.

Of Mice & Men
TITLE: Restoring Force
RELEASE DATE: January 28
Metalcore act Of Mice & Men are proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the heavy-music scene. After releasing the single, “You’re Not Alone,” late last year–which also happened to be the fans’ pick for Song of the Year on RevolverMag.com–vocalist Austin Carlile & Co. are ready to release Restoring Force. The band’s third effort, it will be OM&M’s first to feature new bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley.

Opeth
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Last year, vocalist-guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt announced that he had begun writing new material for the forthcoming 11th Opeth album. It will be the follow-up to 2011′s Heritage, which debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Periphery
TITLE: Clear EP, new full-length title TK
RELEASE DATE: Clear EP, January 28; full-length, July
As one of the pioneers of the djent movement in progressive metal, Periphery are looking to release an experimental EP, Clear, in late January. After that, we are told the band intends on releasing a new full-length, which is already in the works, in the summer.

Pig Destroyer
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Fall
When Virginia speed demons Pig Destroyer dropped 2012′s Book Burner, it was pretty much the grindcore album of the year. Even though the band–which now features recent additions Misery Index’s Adam Jarvis and his cousin John as their first-ever bassist–play live and record sporadically, they do plan to work on material for a 2014 release.

The Pretty Reckless
TITLE: Going to Hell
RELEASE DATE: March
Vocalist Taylor Momsen has been the cover star for Revolver‘s Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock not once, but twice. Now, her band is gearing up to release it’s second full-length. Titled Going to Hell, the record was pushed back to a spring release after Hurricane Sandy flooded the group’s studio. In anticipation, The Pretty Reckless has released two songs off the album–the title track and “Heaven Knows.”

Ringworm
TITLE: Hammer of the Witch
RELEASE DATE: March 18
Metallic hardcore staples Ringworm will unleash another album early this year. Vocalist Human Furnace’s visceral rage should continue to satisfy both metalheads and hardcore kids alike.

Sixx:A.M.
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Sixx: A.M. have been working on their follow-up to 2011′s This Is Gonna Hurt, which is expected in the spring. As for the topic of the record, vocalist-bassist Nikki Sixx told Revolver, “We had never celebrated life in this band so we naturally went that way. We knew it was a totally different kind of album for us. There was still the drama and the texture that Sixx: A.M. brings, but there was this new thing happening that we loved.”

Slayer
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Last year was tumultuous for the thrash O.G.s. Drummer Dave Lombardo was officially out of Slayer for the third time, and Paul Bostaph rejoined the band as his replacement again. Then guitarist Jeff Hanneman tragically died of liver failure. Guitarist Kerry King has confirmed that the band will continue–with Exodus’ Gary Holt handling second guitar–saying, “Jeff is going to be in everybody’s thoughts for a long time. It’s unfortunate you can’t keep unfortunate things from happening. But we’re going to carry on–and he’ll be there in spirit.”

Slipknot
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Writing and recording a new Slipknot record without bassist and major songwriter Paul Gray, who passed away in 2010, would be challenging enough. Then, late last year, the band split with drummer and another chief songwriter, Joey Jordison. Considering Slipknot’s recent travails, it is perhaps not surprising that vocalist Corey Taylor has described the forthcoming new album–their first since 2008′s All Hope Is Gone–as “very dark.”

Suicide Silence
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Spring
“It took a good four or five months to decide if we still wanted to make music together,” guitarist Mark Heylmun told Revolver. “We had no direction and were so lost. It took time for us to realize that this is what we do.” What Heylmun is referring to is deciding to record after the 2012 death of vocalist Mitch Lucker, who passed away from injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash. Once the decision was made, the band demoed about 14 songs with former All Shall Perish vocalist and new Suicide Silence frontman Hernan “Eddie” Hermida.

Theory of a Deadman
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Summer
Canadian hard-rock hit-makers Theory of a Deadman are returning to the studio next month. The resulting fifth studio album will be the follow-up to 2011′s The Truth Is…

Tool
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: TBA
While frontman Maynard James Keenan has been seemingly preoccupied putting out Puscifer records, reuniting with A Perfect Circle, and squashing grapes, we’re holding out hope that he and his bandmates in Tool will finally put out a new album this year. Until they do, we’re prepared to be teased, tortured, and titillated by more rumors and misinformation, much of it doubtlessly spread by Tool themselves.

Tombs
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: Spring
Brooklyn, New York’s experimental metal band Tombs stirred the underground with their last release, 2011′s Path of Totality. The group will be working with famed extreme-music producer, and Hate Eternal main man, Erik Rutan for their new release, due out this spring.

Triptykon
TITLE: Melana Chasmata
RELEASE DATE: TBA
Extreme-metal trailblazers Celtic Frost called it quits in 2008 and the group’s frontman, Tom Gabriel Warrior, made a comeback with his new band, Triptykon. Warrior says the title Melana Chasmata comes from ancient Greek and translates to “deep, dark valleys.” He adds, “We’re using it with all the symbolism it represents. It reflects the state we’re at mentally and emotionally perfectly.”

Veil of Maya
TITLE: TBA
RELEASE DATE: July
Chicago deathcore band Veil of Maya released the single “Subject Zero” last fall and re-signed with Sumerian Records. Since then, the group has been working on their follow-up to 2012′s Eclipse and expects the new full-length this summer.

]]>http://www.revolvermag.com/news/2014-preview-the-most-anticipated-albums-of-the-year.html/feed52The Most Metal Books of 2011http://www.revolvermag.com/culture/the-most-metal-books-of-2011.html
http://www.revolvermag.com/culture/the-most-metal-books-of-2011.html#commentsMon, 09 Jan 2012 21:03:46 +0000http://www.revolvermag.com/?p=30932Chris “Howard’s End” Krovatin is the author of two young adult novels, Heavy Metal & You and Venomous. He is currently working on multiple new writing projects, as well as new material with his local New York metal band Flaming Tusk. He is a freelance writer for Revolver and generally comes off as a good-natured pain in everyone’s collective ass.

An idea exists that metalheads don’t like to read, that we’re too busy pounding brewskis and sacrificing housecats to Satan to enjoy a good book, or that our stimuli-raped brains can’t take in media more intelligent than Robocop. Which, of course, is bullshit. Any hesher who has spent a night hunched over some Lovecraft knows that literature is metal as fuck, it’s just that a lot of “highbrow” literature is not terribly exciting, and a lot of it was forced on us in school. (I, for example, will never like E.M. Forster thanks to having to read Howard’s End in high school.) But headbangers shouldn’t despair—there are plenty of options out there. So for the discerning literary metalhead, I present these, my picks for the Most Metal Books of 2011, each one matched up with a song from 2011 that suits its atmosphere.

1. The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan The Berliner is dead—Jake Marlowe is now the last werewolf on earth. And even if he’s not being attacked by government-funded monster hunters and vampire illuminati, he still has his ever-present hard-on and nonstop diet of good scotch and smokes to deal with. In this smart, sexy, and darkly grandiose novel, Duncan (who looks like he just survived the goth apocalypse) brings us a charming definitive take on one of horror’s most underappreciated monsters. (Recommended Listening: The Black Dahlia Murder, “Moonlight Equilibrium”).

2. Black Metal Vol. 2 by Rick Spears and Chuck BBIn the follow-up to last year’s graphic novel sensation, Spears and BB continue the story of the Brothers Stronghand, twin corpse-painted Hell barons who wield an ancient sword they discovered by playing a black metal record backwards. But now, in their attempts to reclaim the throne of Hell, they are faced with an unexpected foe: Satan himself. This slim volume of cartoon violence and mayhem is a fitting tribute to black metal’s ravishing grimness. (Recommended Listening: Midnight, “You Can’t Stop Steel”).

3. Crimes In Southern Indiana by Frank BillAmerica is not all cheesesteak and NASCAR. In the bubbling ancient cauldron of Heartland USA, terrible things go down—lovers murder each other brutally, meth is sold and consumed by the pound daily, guns go off randomly, human life is weighed cheaply. In this collection of short stories, Bill (gotta love an author with two first names) paints a picture of the dark means of survival that run through the gritty cut-throat underbelly of our own backyard. (Recommended Listening: The Atlas Moth, “Perpetual Generations”).

4. Murder In The Front Row: Shots From The Bay Area Thrash Metal Epicenter by Harald Oimoen and Brian Lew In this photographic diary, Oimoen and Lew chronicle their upbringing at Ground Zero of the thrash-metal movement in California, giving readers an insightful glimpse of a gritty, too-real world of speed and rebellion that created the entire concept of extreme metal. Includes words by Gary Holt and Machine Head’s Rob Flynn, as well as rad pictures of everyone’s favorite headbangers—Holt’s band, Exodus, Slayer, Testament, Anthrax, Vio-Lence, Possessed, Megadeth, and, of course, Metallica. (Recommended Listening: Toxic Holocaust, “Nowhere To Run”).

5. Zone One by Colson Whitehead Spend three days in the life of Mark Spitz, a lone disillusioned marine attempting the clean up of Chinatown in New York—now known as “Zone One”—after the zombie apocalypse. But sometimes it’s not even the walking dead that are the problem, but the infrastructure, the sponsor corporation’s new rules, the gossip between your fellow sweepers (though, in the end, it’s really the walking dead that are the problem). In a bold attempt to make a lowbrow genre literary, Whitehead presents a new kind of horror story, one drowned in great drifts of mediocrity, depression, and inevitable doom. (Recommended Listening: Machine Head, “Locust”).

6. Metalion: The Slayer Mag Diaries by Jon Kristiansen In late-’80s and early-’90s Scandinavia, one zine ruled the scene: Slayer, a thorny DIY mag dedicated to only the darkest of underground metal. Showcasing bands like Mayhem, Emperor, and Napalm Death long before they were big names, Metalion made Slayer a huge sensation among extreme metal’s forerunners; now, these awesome relics of extreme metal’s history can be yours in one fat, badass volume. (Recommended Listening: Ash Borer, “Rest, You Are The Lightning”)

7. Overkill: The Untold Story of Motörhead by Joel McIver McIver, author of books about Slayer, Cliff Burton, Randy Rhoads, and a number of other metallic subjects, here takes on the tale of the original speed-metal band, chronicling their rise to stardom in the ’70s and ’80s and the high-octane life and habits of its frontman, one Lemmy Kilmister. Full of humor and insight, Overkill is an intelligent and well-worded telling of a band’s life outside of the spotlight, accentuating the seamless merge of hilarity and personal drama that too often epitomizes the life of a band. (Recommended Listening: Skeletonwitch, “Of Ash and Torment”)

8. Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss The author of Hammer of the Gods and The Dirt takes you on a whirlwind tour of the rock climate, pulling unpublished excerpts from interviews with everyone from Lady Gaga to Slayer’s Tom Araya. Ride dirty with Snoop Dogg, rants mindlessly with Clown from Slipknot, take a white power walkabout through Skullbone, Tennessee, or just kick back and listen to Julian Casablancas from the Strokes give The Worst Interview Ever. It’s all right here, in this hyperactive ransom note of rock’s favorite reporter. (Recommended Listening: Necrocomicon, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”)

9. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver In this exciting and saddening family drama, we follow the unfolding story of Eva, a woman trying to get a glimpse into the mind of her son Kevin, who has just committed a brutal school massacre. The book looks into the horror and insecurity of being near, but unable to reach, a sick and terrifying mind, and let’s the reader get a bit more tangible grasp on the inner workings of both a poisoned family and a sociopathic killer. (Recommended Listening: Tombs, “To Cross The Land”)

10. Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell With Black Sabbath by Tony Iommi and T.J. Lammers In this tell-all volume, the guitarist who invented heavy metal tells the story of how it all began. Though a little light on the journalistic facts and sometimes maybe too forgiving (Iommi’s cocaine use in the ’80s is often written off as a little bit of fun), Iron Man is a familiar and engaging story about the all-too-human life of one of metal’s gods. (Recommended Listening: Hammers of Misfortune, “The Grain”).